Norristown area school board discusses new geographic zones for elementary schools

Norristown Area high school student Abigayle Renk, second-place winner of the Montgomery County Chapter Links “Get Smart, Get Healthy — Make Health a Habit” poster art contest, shakes hands with the Norristown Area School District Director of Technology Mark Long next to student school board representative Sterling Williams at the school board meeting Monday, March 17, 2014. Photo by Brendan Wills/Times Herald Staff.

NORRISTOWN — Discussion regarding the geographic boundaries that will determine which Norristown students will attend the Ray S. Musselman Learning Center in September began during Monday night’s work session of the Norristown area school board.

The map presented during the meeting outlined the sections of Norristown currently designated as Gotwals Elementary, Hancock Elementary and Cole Manor Elementary attendance zones that could potentially be included in the new Musselman attendance zones when building renovations are completed on the new elementary school before the start of academic year.

The eastern section of the current Gotwals attendance section between Noble and Markley streets, a large section of the current Hancock attendance zone between Harding Boulevard and New Hope Street, and the southern section of the current Cole Manor attendance section in the southeast corner of the school district, would all be part of the Musselman attendance zone if the board approves the proposed map at its March 24 meeting.

Approval of the map is the first step in laying out a plan for staffing for the new building and arranging student transportation, according to district Superintendent Janet Samuels.

Several teachers from the three elementary schools were in attendance at the meeting, one of whom expressed concern during public comment that the kindergarten teachers were not included in discussions of the plans for the new school.

Board member Matt Rivera called the change to the new district format a “balancing act.”

“What we’re contemplating here, obviously, it’s a change,” Rivera said, citing district population increases and the need to keep class sizes small. “We only have so much real estate to work with. It’s a balancing act any way we go. Other schools in other zones will be affected further down the road.”

Board member Janice Pearce addressed the potential concerns faculty might have over future changes, citing four personal experiences as an educator when she was transferred between buildings.

“Transfers are frightening and difficult,” Pearce said. “I know how anxious you are. We are looking forward to making the transition as easy as possible. Whoever goes to Musselman, we wish you well.”

Two contracts with ePlus Technology Inc. for the district’s network equipment, scheduled for a vote at next week’s meeting, will also affect the Musselman property.

One contract, for $70,948, will upgrade the current network equipment for Norristown Area High School, Cole Manor Elementary School, Marshall Street Elementary, Paul V. Fly Elementary School and East Norriton Middle School.

The other contract, for $27,464, will be for the installation of network equipment at Musselman.

According to Mark Long, the district’s director of technology, once the contracts are approved by the board, the district can apply for E-Rate Funding, a program started by the Federal Communications Commission that provides discounts up to 90 percent to eligible schools for contracts with technology and communications companies. Long indicated the $27,464 contract would be used to purchase almost $300,000 worth of equipment should the E-Rate discount be similar to ones filed in the past.

The board also began discussion on contracts with CM3 Building Solutions for the installation of an access control system and two keyless entries at the high school, Stewart Middle School and Eisenhower Science and Technology Leadership Academy. A similar contract would install 11 keyless entries in the athletic wing of the high school.

The contracts, totaling $25,000 and $26,850, respectively, will be voted upon at next week’s meeting. The first would be funded through the Safe School Targeted Grant, and the other would come out of the athletic department’s budget.

The work session began with a presentation of awards to three Norristown High School students for their accomplishments in the Montgomery County Chapter Links “Get Smart, Get Healthy — Make Health a Habit” poster art contest. The Montgomery County Links President Ellen Thomas and contest Chairwoman Karen Hamilton presented Ian Smith, Abigayle Renk, and Frank Repollet with certificates for being chosen as the top three winners, respectively.

Smith’s first-place poster depicting two boxers fighting in a ring — one made out of healthy foods and one of unhealthy foods — was on display next to the others’ posters in the lobby of the administration building throughout the work session. The school board held a small reception with food and beverages in honor of the art students before the meeting began.